"Kennedy assasination" ice bullet myth

[geardog32]

Ok i am no conspiracy theorist, but i was thinking about the Mythbusters episode where they tackle ice bullet theory of the Kennedy assasination. The conclusion they came to was that the heat from a conventional firearms cartridge melted the ice bullet. After seeing many air cannons on this site including the decimenator, I was wondering if such an event could happen if an air cannon was used instead of a conventional rifle. Another factor would also be accuracy. This is purely a scientific conversation with no intention of using said information for harm. I just thought it would be an interesting subject. i may write the Mythbusters show and suggest it for one of there revisited shows.

[ALIHISGREAT]

Probably plausible... i reckon the bigger the bullet the better for strength.

[Hubb]

I've fired ice rounds from a pneumatic before on several occasions, but never less than a 1" bore.

[geardog32]

I've fired ice rounds from a pneumatic before on several occasions, but never less than a 1" bore.

when you fired them did they seem to have much accuracy?

[jeepkahn]

Ok i am no conspiracy theorist, but i was thinking about the Mythbusters episode where they tackle ice bullet theory of the Kennedy assasination. The conclusion they came to was that the heat from a conventional firearms cartridge melted the ice bullet. After seeing many air cannons on this site including the decimenator, I was wondering if such an event could happen if an air cannon was used instead of a conventional rifle. Another factor would also be accuracy. This is purely a scientific conversation with no intention of using said information for harm. I just thought it would be an interesting subject. i may write the Mythbusters show and suggest it for one of there revisited shows.

Great, the guys in dark glasses are REALLY gonna be watching me now...

It's not like my aunt didn't try to off Gerald Ford...

[Hubb]

when you fired them did they seem to have much accuracy?

It depended on the make. Most basic ice slugs were just like shooting a very dense projectile. Without stabilizers, forward center of gravity, rifling, etc (basically - anything to enhance accuracy) the accuracy that was achieved, which wasn't "hit a quarter at 100 yards", was expected.

Ice ammo in itself serves a different purpose, however, than accuracy. Shoot it at a brick wall and see what happens.....

[psycix]

Yes, you could fire an ice bullet from a pneumatic gun. There are no hot gases behind the projectile, heck, they are even freezing because of the expansion!

However, for a good accuracy from a long distance, you will need a stable and consistent projectile, which may be hard to create out of ice.
It will also need to survive the extreme acceleration and air resistance, small fins could break off, or, due to the big amount of air passing, rapidly melt.



Oh, and don't forget the meat bullet

[suburban spudgunner]

I've fired ice rounds from a pneumatic before on several occasions, but never less than a 1" bore.

I've fired them from a 1/2 inch bore. My methods for creating these ice bullets certainly weren't the best: I basically just made them in a small pipe and shaped them with my hands afterwards.

This aside, the accuracy wasn't great. They tended to tumble end over end. This could be fixed with a tail or fins, but I don't know how you would go about attaching either of those to an ice bullet.

[Brian the brain]

If it were to be molded a foster slug could be made.
I think shallow rifling would then suffice to produce a fairly accurate trajectory..

It is entirely possible to create an accurate weapon that fires ice slugs...Especially with a government budget.

[al-xg]

I did try firing some ice slugs (14mm) a while back, but they seemed to disintegrate on leaving the barrel.

[Hotwired]

Purely for the sake of discussion...

Heavily suppressed medium bore firing a slug at short range.

Fantasise about long range shots all you want, it's a wodge of ice, spin it and it'll die, fin it and it's no longer ice, have it a vanilla slug and you'd better be aiming at a barn door.

IMHO of course

[Moonbogg]

Load the barrel with water and fire it through a refrigerator, instantly freezing the water into a large, fast moving ice stick.

[Hotwired]

Or slush

[jackssmirkingrevenge]

After seeing many air cannons on this site including the decimenator.

Sounds more lethal when you put it that way. Maybe the micronizer for your next trick

As to the ice bullet, beyond point blank range actually hitting the target is a matter of pure coincidence. It could be done, and yes investigators would not find a projectile, but the man in dark glasses and fake moustache walking away with a massive air cannon would look somewhat conspicuous

[geardog32]

i will also say for those who did not see the episode of mythbusters they made a very nice mold for the ice bullets and used liquid nitrogen to freeze them. im also thinking that it would have to be a larger caliber than a normal 5.56 or 308. as for size (not to accuse jeepkhan of anything) the deciminator doesn't seem to large, especially with the barrel removed. it was 265 feet from the sixth floor window, and is about the same distance to the "grassy knoll".